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Savage: 'Brendan Rodgers is my manager of the season.'

Even if he doesn't deliver the Premier League title this term, Savage is tipping the Liverpool boss to be given the best manager prize.

Match of the Day pundit Robbie Savage has said that Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is still his manager of the season, despite the Reds seemingly falling short in this season’s title race.

Liverpool still have a slim chance of winning their first title in 24 years on Sunday but would need West Ham United to beat Manchester City to have any hope of becoming champions.

Savage has outlined the progress made by the Northern Irishman by guiding a side that finished seventh during the previous campaign to still be in the title race come the final day of the season, and the work he has done with several players.

The Welshman wrote in his Daily Mirror column: “He has reinvented Steven Gerrard as a quarterback, his coaching has improved Jordan Henderson, Jon Flanagan, Daniel Sturridge and Joe Allen no end, in terms of tactical awareness – and, of course, his masterstroke was keeping hold of Luis Suarez last summer.”

However, Savage does highlight Liverpool’s defence that has conceded 49 goals this season as one area that needs improvement, and it is something he has mentioned for much of the season. It’s doubtful that he will meet much opposition to that, especially after Liverpool’s poor defending aided a Crystal Palace fightback at Selhurst Park on Monday night, when at 3-0 up it seemed certain that the Reds would go on to win the game.

Ian Bolland

A journalism graduate of Liverpool John Moores University. During his time at university, Ian spent time on work experience at local newspapers in Liverpool, Bolton and Wigan, and prior to that he did work for The Observer's 'fans verdict'. Ian also has interests in news, current affairs and business but mostly sport, including football, rugby league, cricket, golf and Formula 1, amongst others.